texture

1 of 2

noun

tex·​ture ˈteks-chər How to pronounce texture (audio)
1
a
: the visual or tactile surface characteristics and appearance of something
the texture of an oil painting
b
: the disposition or manner of union of the particles of a body or substance
2
a
: a composite of the elements of prose or poetry
all these words … meet violently to form a texture impressive and excitingJohn Berryman
b
: a pattern of musical sound created by tones or lines played or sung together
3
a
: essential part : substance
b
: identifying quality : character
4
a
: something composed of closely interwoven elements
specifically : a woven cloth
b
: the structure formed by the threads of a fabric
5
a
: basic scheme or structure
b
: overall structure
textural adjective
texturally adverb
textured adjective
textureless adjective

texture

2 of 2

verb

textured; texturing

transitive verb

: to give a particular texture to

Examples of texture in a Sentence

Noun wood with a rough texture the smooth texture of silk The plant's leaves are almost leathery in texture. foods with very different textures The custard should be smooth and creamy in texture. a song with layered textures I liked the raw, gritty texture of the film. The movies are similar in texture.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Superb texture, very long finish, excellent acidity and outstanding complexity, this is as good as Sauvignon (Fumé) Blanc gets! Tom Hyland, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024 Layer a Variety of Textures Welch says layering different textures can help foster a welcoming and cozy feeling in your home. Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Oct. 2024
Verb
Unique crackly textures that are uneven to the touch, either bumpy or pitted, much like craters on the moon. Grace Xue, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2024 Also notable is the cozy-as-a-shawl soundtrack, which brims with beckoning mid-century ballads (both American and Korean) and is textured mixed with all sorts of whoops, plops, and playful echoes to complement Sara’s cheesy ploy making. Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for texture 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'texture.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin textura, from textus, past participle of texere to weave — more at technical

First Known Use

Noun

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Verb

1694, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of texture was in 1578

Dictionary Entries Near texture

Cite this Entry

“Texture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/texture. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

texture

1 of 2 noun
tex·​ture ˈteks-chər How to pronounce texture (audio)
1
: the structure, feel, and appearance of something (as a fabric)
the smooth texture of silk
wood with a rough texture
2
: a quality that identifies something
textured adjective

texture

2 of 2 verb
textured; texturing
: to give a particular texture to
texture a ceiling

More from Merriam-Webster on texture

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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